Nebraska Synod ELCA
Event
Program Description:
Brian McLaren has been one of the leading voices in the church for over 30 years, but recently he has been trying to come to terms with what he calls a “intensifying and persistent sense of anxiety growing from the realization that we humans have made a mess of our civilization and our planet.” In his new book, Life After Doom, he invites us into a conversation around what he calls this “tender, sweet, piercing sadness.” Have we brought ourselves and our world to an inevitable end because of the destruction we have brought to our environment, to our institutions, and to our social connections? Or can we find in this “devastating new reality” opportunities for faith and hope? As McLaren says, “when you dance with doom, doom changes you.”
Week 1. Letting Go: A Path of Descent
Week 2. Letting Be: A Place of Insight
Week 3. Letting Come: A Path of Resilience
Week 4. Setting Free: A Path of Agile Engagement
Instructor:
Rev. Glen Thomas shares he is a born and bred Husker, a Fremont native and a UNL alum. He found his calling to ministry at the Lutheran Student Center at UNL and did his seminary training at Luther Northwestern Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota. There he discovered a new outlet for his love of history and began what has been a life-long adventure of plumbing the depths of theology, piety and the life of the church. Pastor Glen is challenged and excited by the constant enterprise of living up to the Lutheran Reformation motto Semper Reformanda (always reforming). The living witness of Lutheranism has so much to offer the community of faith, and he thinks that has become more and more true in this moment in history. He loves to preach and teach. Pastor Larry Meyer always reminded us of the importance of biblical literacy, and Pastor Glen’s recent explorations in the Emerging Church conversation has opened his eyes to see where that journey can lead and he finds great joy in seeing people discover anew what the Bible truly says and the breadth and depth of God’s living Word. Wife, Lorie Thomas, is a social worker for Region VI Behavioral Health and teaches at UNO. She has a passion to serve people with significant mental health needs, and especially in the aging population. They have two grown and married sons and a beautiful granddaughter.
Class Details:
Dates: Tuesdays November 5, 12, 19 and 26
Time: 8:00-9:00 AM Central/7:00-8:00 AM Mountain
This is designed for early birds who find a book discussion later in the day just does not work. Start Tuesdays in November with a great group of early birds… or those pretending to be early birds for the sake of joining the faithful conversation.
Format:
This is an online conversation group using Zoom. Links and other details will be sent to participants after October 29.
Target Audience:
This course is limited to 16 participants to encourage full participation and conversation while using Zoom. It is for those wanting to explore the complexity of hope, the necessity of grief and the need for new ways of thinking, becoming and belonging in turbulent times.
Cost: Course is $20/person plus the cost of the book.
Participants will need to have Brian McLaren’s book Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart.
Registration deadline is October 28. No refunds after October 28.
Continuing Education: This course fills 4-hour credit for continuing education. PMAs should check the
PMA Handbook for instructions on recording continuing education hours.